Whether it’s the holidays, a family trip, or simply the need to provide someone a place to crash for the night, smaller spaces pose a challenge. A one-bedroom apartment doesn’t sound like it can accommodate a second sleeping space, does it? But with a little organization and ingenuity, you might be surprised to find enough space to give any guest a little privacy and a place to snooze. Read on to explore four ways to convert any room into a guest room.
Flexible Furniture
If you have an extra room of any size, it’s easy to convert it to a guest’s room. Start by providing a bed with an inexpensive yet quality mattress. After that, a cabinet, a table, and a chair will put you in business. But if you don’t have the extra room for all four essentials, what do you do?
Simply put, you find furniture that does double duty. Futon frames may not be as fashionable as they once were, but they are an easy way to make the main room an impromptu bedroom one or two nights out of the year. Sofa beds, of course, are classic instant bedroom pieces that serve a useful function the rest of the time. You can even invest in a trundle bed that slides under your own bed—it’s more solid and inviting than an inflatable mattress.
Precious Privacy
While a visit is a time to spend as much time as possible together in a short span, guests still need a little bit of privacy. This might be a little harder to come by in a smaller apartment or home, but it’s not impossible. Folding screens, room dividers, bookshelves, curtains, and sliding doors between rooms can create cozy nooks where a guest can sleep, rest, read, or dress. Naturally, setting boundaries and invisible borders and respecting them during certain times can also help guests feel less like intruders in your space.
Cozy Comfort
If the space is extra small, concentrate on making it cozy versus claustrophobic. Splurge a little on blankets, comforters, extra soft bedding, mattress toppers, and fluffy pillows for your guests. Ensconce them in plushness. Having a warm and luxurious rug awaiting their feet when they wake up and get out of bed is also ideal. Make the area convenient as well, with an end table or drawer for their stuff, a nearby outlet for their chargeables, and space to sit and kick back if need be.
Sensible Scheduling
Here’s the last of our four ways to convert any room into a guest room. If a guest plans to stay for longer than a night or two, consider letting them have the place to themselves at least once. Familiarity breeds contempt, so schedule some away time to let them recover and recharge. Make an excuse to get groceries or run errands so that you can let them be alone for an hour or so. It’ll make the visit much more pleasant for all involved!
Leave a Reply